Torrential rain swamped much of North Texas early Saturday, flooding roads and homes, filling creeks to bursting, and causing one death and a host of close calls.

(National Weather Service)

Over 8 inches of rain fell at DFW International Airport between Friday and Saturday, and some spots saw even more than that, according to the National Weather Service.

That 24-hour period was the third-wettest on record in Dallas and, coupled with the 3 inches that fell earlier this month, added up to the rainiest September ever, according to the weather service.

Beyond the staggering rainfall totals, there was nothing all that remarkable about the weather. The storms weren't severe; they were sluggish.

"This time of year, a tropical storm doesn't have to be the source of incredible amounts of rain," said Brian James, a meteorologist with KXAS-TV (NBC5). "A slow-moving 'regular' storm system can do just as much damage."

Water flooding out of the banks of White Rock Creek onto the Flagpole Hill Trail in Dallas on Saturday.

(Brian Elledge/Staff Photographer)

Water flooding out of the banks of White Rock Creek onto the Flagpole Hill Trail in Dallas.

(Brian Elledge/Staff Photographer)

A Range Rover and a car drive through waters flooding out of the banks of White Rock Creek onto Goforth Road.

(Brian Elledge/Staff Photographer)

Water flooding out of the banks of White Rock Creek underneath E. NW Highway in Dallas.

(Brian Elledge/Staff Photographer)

Marco Medrano, from City of Dallas Public Works Department, puts out a barrier to close Goforth Road near White Rock Creek on Saturday.

(Brian Elledge/Staff photographer)

Water flooding out of the banks of White Rock Creek onto the Flagpole Hill Trail in Dallas on Saturday.

(Brian Elledge/Staff Photographer)

A pickup hauling a trailer drives through waters flooding out of the banks of White Rock Creek on Saturday in Dallas.

(Brian Elledge/Staff Photographer)

A sailboat washed up on the west shore of White Rock Lake in Dallas on Saturday.

(Jim Rossman/Staff)

The worst of the rain had moved off to the northeast by dawn, but a flash-flood watch remains in effect through Sunday morning for Dallas and Collin counties.

Keisha Burns, KXAS-TV (NBC5) weather anchor, said the rain should clear throughout the day on Saturday but that occasional scattered showers are still expected.

In Everman, just south of Forest Hill, dozens of homes were flooded so quickly that residents had to wait for rescuers on their roofs.

"We had residents stranded up on top of their homes. People begging for help, screaming for help," Everman Police Chief Craig Spencer told KXAS-TV (NBC5). "It's a scary situation, not only for the residents, but also for the first responders. It's a tough situation to be in."

Rescuers had trouble reaching the flooded houses because the water rose so quickly and became too high to navigate.

"It looked like we all live in a river," Jimmie Reason of Everman told NBC5. "Everybody was panicking."

Also in Collin County, a freight train hauling steel derailed on a flooded track near Farmersville around 11:30 p.m. Friday, Lt. Nick Bristow said.

Eleven rail cars jumped the tracks, but no injuries were reported. Drivers were asked to avoid the area.

A train was derailed around 11:30 p.m. Friday near Farmersville, the Collin County Sheriff's Office said. Eleven cars jumped the tracks, and drivers were asked to avoid the area.

(Collin County Sheriff's Office)

In Southlake, firefighters saved a family of three trapped in a car on White Chapel Boulevard, using a ladder truck to reach them.

"We just went through this wall of water," Dr. Carlos Torres told NBC5. "We were just trapped."

Torres and his two daughters were headed home after dinner at a restaurant when their Maserati was trapped by floodwaters.

.@SouthlakeDPS rescued a father and two teens Fri night after they drove a Maserati into high water over a bridge on North White Chapel Blvd near Bob Jones Park. Firefighters had to smash out the back window and pull them out of the car surrounded by rushing water @FOX4pic.twitter.com/7Ja3ZnCk5R

That's when Southlake firefighters extended a ladder over the family's car, broke a window and helped them to safety.

"Anytime we have an opportunity to save someone's life like that, it's a great feeling for our people," Southlake Fire Chief Michael said. "It's very rewarding. It's why we do what we do."

RESCUE THREAD! We hear the stories of heroic rescues on the news, and we see the brave men and women nationwide who run to the danger while others run away. Last night was a rough one for our fair city and our first responders. 1/ pic.twitter.com/MRvRZxVw7T

In Fort Worth, Southeast Loop 820 was shut down at Sun Valley Road after flooding made the highway too dangerous.

MedStar, the ambulance provider that serves Fort Worth and surrounding areas, responded to 83 crashes with injuries in 16 hours over Friday and Saturday. That included nine rollover crashes and two submerged vehicles.

Late Friday, scores of motorists were stuck on roads across Dallas-Fort Worth after flooding shut down a number of routes.

Traffic remained backed up around 9:40 p.m. Friday.

(TxDOT)

U.S. Highway 75 was closed just north of the Plano Parkway exit around 9 p.m. because of high water, authorities said.

Traffic cameras showed dozens of cars stopped on the road, and traffic was backed up for miles in both directions.

Plano Fire-Rescue was called to help motorists whose vehicles were trapped in the water. Ten people were rescued from a half-dozen vehicles, officials said.

All lanes had reopened just before 11 p.m.

In Denton, officials closed southbound Interstate 35E at State School Road because of water on the road. The highway reopened Saturday morning.

The Keller Fire Department rescued one person from an SUV after it became stuck in high water on Nightingale Circle.

A number of other roads across North Texas were closed because of flooding, and authorities urged people to stay safe and not drive into high water.